The announcement of the results of Peru's presidential election today was delayed due to multiple logistical problems, and thousands of people still have not voted.
Authorities have allowed more than 52.000 Lima residents to vote today, in addition to the elections held yesterday.
The vote counting began last night, only to be stopped and postponed later.
Voting is mandatory for all Peruvian citizens aged 18 to 70, and failure to comply is punishable by a fine of $32.
The elections are taking place amid a rise in violent crime and corruption across the country, which has fueled widespread discontent among voters, who largely view the candidates as dishonest and unprepared for the presidency.
More than 27 million people were registered to vote, of which about 1,2 million voted abroad, mainly in the United States (US) and Argentina.
With eight presidents since 2016, half of whom have been removed, politicians have been severely discredited by corruption scandals.
In the polls, Keiko Fujimori, a right-wing candidate running for the fourth time, is narrowly ahead of comedian Carlos Alvarez, ultra-conservative Rafael López Aliaga, octogenarian centrist Ricardo Belmonte and left-wing candidates including Roberto Sánchez.
A presidential candidate needs more than 50 percent of the vote to win, and a runoff in June is virtually guaranteed, given the deeply divided electorate and the largest number of candidates in the history of the election.
Voters are also being asked to elect members of the bicameral Congress for the first time in more than 30 years, following recent reforms that concentrate significant power in the new upper house.
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